1. Main tasks  2 kHz distance measurements to 60 satellites  Precision: 2.5 mm single shot; <<1 mm NPs  Single photon detection / day and night  Spin Parameter Determination  Multi-Static Laser ranging to space debris  Preparing for the future:  ELT: European Laser Timing Experiment [ps]  Quantum Cryptography via Satellites  SLR to Nano-Satellites IWF/ÖAW1 Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Refereed publications (since Jan 2013)  Total: 15 (first author: 2) IRNNS: Quasi-Geostationary; 04-04-2014

2. Lead: Georg Kirchner Members  Staff: H. Allmer, F. Koidl, R. Stieninger  four students for SLR measurements during part of nights Cooperation within IWF  Gravity Field Group (Baur et al.): SLR and debris orbit determination Key external collaboration USA: ILRS/NASA; ESA; Czech Technical University; Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute; Germany: BKG IWF/ÖAW2 Who are we?

3. >100 sats or >>200 passes/day IWF/ÖAW3 NOW:Tracking 60 satellites, with > 100 passes per day Future:>100 satellites, with >200 passes per day PLUS:Space Debris, Quantum Cryptography, Time Transfer, Nano-Sats … Solution:  kHz SLR  Pass Switching …  ≥1000 Pts/NP: about 0.2 mm  No NPs <100 pts

4. Envisat IWF/ÖAW4  Envisat: spin parameters from SLR  Spins with  130 s, +36.7 ms per day  “Flat” spin: stable spin axis orientation  Retros visible only in 50% of passes (east in morning, west in evening) Envisat  Eight retros: signatures visible  Used for precise spin period deter- mination „Flat“ spin with stable orientation

5. In 13 sessions, each 2–3 h at early evening (objects visible): >200 passes of ~60 objects; up to >3000 km; low elevation Graz Debris Laser Ranging 2013 IWF/ÖAW5

6. Multistatic Experiment SLR to Space Debris: Graz Results IWF/ÖAW6  One active station (Graz) fires laser pulse  Photons are reflected from satellite body  Several passive stations receive photons ⇨Pseudo ranges added in single pass ⇨POD of space debris significantly improved Distances: Graz – Wettzell:400 km Graz – Zimmerwald:600 km Graz – Herstmonceux:1200 km

7. Instrumental Development IWF/ÖAW7 C-SPAD 200 µm Sensicam CCD: Day 0.3 nm 1 nm ISIT: Night M2 50 mm M1 50 mm 600 – 900 nm 1064 nm 15 mm 30 mm F=100 mm F=50 mm SAP-500 500 µm IR-SPAD 80 µm M4 50 mm Spare … New options  532 nm standard  532 nm debris  1064 nm debris  1030 nm debris  All cameras here  ISIT Box: Space for Quantum Detector (4 SPAD detectors) Future tasks  Different wavelengths/detectors: 532 / 1064 nm; 1030 nm; 808 nm; 710 nm  All switch mirrors and filters: Remote Control  Fast switching between different tasks: Routine ILRS SLR / debris / Quantum Cryptography etc.  Dual/Multi-color SLR possible

8. Tracking ILRS Satellites (increasing up to 100)  HEO: 30 Galileo, 26 GLONASS, 8 IRNNS, 10 Compass; (GPS: 2018 +)  >10 additional (mainly Earth observation) satellites: ICESat-2, Jason-3, Sentinel-3…  Spin determination  Continuous SLR time series are essential for most scientific results (POD, ITRF, EOPs, …) Space Debris  Optimize technology for debris ranging  Single-Photon DART  Bi- & multi-static debris ranging Additional Experiments  Time transfer (ACES/ELT)  Quantum Cryptography with Chinese Sat  SLR to several Nano-/Cube-Sats 8 Future Plans: 2015-2016 Planned: Jason-3 over California Live Situation Display in Graz IWF/ÖAW

9. Thank you IWF/ÖAW9

10. 10 Dr. Georg Kirchner Career Summary since 1979at Institut für Weltraumforschung, ÖAW, Austria 1988PhD, Graz University of Technology, Austria since 2001Head of NEWG (Network and Engineering Working Group of ILRS) since 2005Member of ILRS Governing Board Publications 59 Articles (First Author: 31, Refereed Articles: 18) Research Interests  Satellite Laser Ranging, satellite spin determination, laser tracking of space debris, innovative SLR add-on / side applications  Ultra high speed electronics, single photon detection  Real time programming Recognition 1988Christian-Doppler-Prize, Federal State of Salzburg